
About
Hosts John and Alistair talk all things Old Glory DC - match breakdowns and previews, player news, stats, all from the perspective of two dedicated fans. Releases weekly during the season and sporadically the rest of the time. About the hosts: John Fitzpatrick is the proprietor of the Rugby Morning newsletter and host of Rugby Morning Coffee Break on Rugby Wrap Up Alistair Kirsch-Poole writes for Glorious Rugby and is the proprietor of Tackle the Numbers
Latest Episodes
View all 155 episodesThat Felt Good
Not How We Wanted to Start
Ep 149It's Game Time, Plus a Chat with Perry Humphreys
Episode Notes Perry Humphreys joins us for a few minutes to talk about the upcoming season, and AKP and Fitz preview OGDC's season opener against the Seattle Seawolves, and make their picks. About the hosts John Fitzpatrick Runs the Rugby Morning newsletter Hosts MLR Coffee Break on MLR Weekly (Rugby Wrap Up) Hosts USA Rugby Happy Hour on Twitter Spaces Twitter: @rugbymorning Alistair Kirsch-Poole Writer/editor for Glorious Rugby Runs Tackle the Numbers Twitter: @AlistairKP
Ep 147Rick Rose & Max Schumacher - They've Come to Learn
Episode Notes Max Schumacher and Rick Rose join us to talk about moving to OGDC and what they hope to learn now that they're here. About the hosts John Fitzpatrick Runs the Rugby Morning newsletter Hosts MLR Coffee Break on MLR Weekly (Rugby Wrap Up) Hosts USA Rugby Happy Hour on Twitter Spaces Twitter: @rugbymorning Alistair Kirsch-Poole Writer/editor for Glorious Rugby Runs Tackle the Numbers Twitter: @AlistairKP
Ep 146Shotgun from a Trophy
Episode Notes The season is so close that there's really not much more to talk about, so we take a tangent into trophies. About the hosts John Fitzpatrick Runs the Rugby Morning newsletter Hosts MLR Coffee Break on MLR Weekly (Rugby Wrap Up) Hosts USA Rugby Happy Hour on Twitter Spaces Twitter: @rugbymorning Alistair Kirsch-Poole Writer/editor for Glorious Rugby Runs Tackle the Numbers Twitter: @AlistairKP
Ep 145Goodbye TMO?
Episode Notes The TMO system makes way for the newly announced Referee Review System, which is... different? Maybe? We dive into all the questions, answered and unanswered. About the hosts John Fitzpatrick Runs the Rugby Morning newsletter Hosts MLR Coffee Break on MLR Weekly (Rugby Wrap Up) Hosts USA Rugby Happy Hour on Twitter Spaces Twitter: @rugbymorning Alistair Kirsch-Poole Writer/editor for Glorious Rugby Runs Tackle the Numbers Twitter: @AlistairKP
Ep 145Last Minute Shake Up
Episode Notes We thought the roster was settled, but then Connor Buckley dropped out at the last minute. We talk about that situation and his replacement. About the hosts John Fitzpatrick Runs the Rugby Morning newsletter Hosts MLR Coffee Break on MLR Weekly (Rugby Wrap Up) Hosts USA Rugby Happy Hour on Twitter Spaces Twitter: @rugbymorning Alistair Kirsch-Poole Writer/editor for Glorious Rugby Runs Tackle the Numbers Twitter: @AlistairKP
Ep 144Fumie Reyes Wants to Coach
Episode Notes Fumie Reyes talks to us about her journey from Hawaii to Singapore to England to DC, where she's now joined the Old Glory staff as a the skills coach. About the hosts John Fitzpatrick Runs the Rugby Morning newsletter Hosts MLR Coffee Break on MLR Weekly (Rugby Wrap Up) Hosts USA Rugby Happy Hour on Twitter Spaces Twitter: @rugbymorning Alistair Kirsch-Poole Writer/editor for Glorious Rugby Runs Tackle the Numbers Twitter: @AlistairKP
Ep 143Chris Mattina - Negotiating History
Episode Notes We interview MLR Players' Association head Chris Mattina about what went into negotiating the new collective bargaining agreement with the league, and what it will deliver for both owners and players. About the hosts John Fitzpatrick Runs the Rugby Morning newsletter Hosts MLR Coffee Break on MLR Weekly (Rugby Wrap Up) Hosts USA Rugby Happy Hour on Twitter Spaces Twitter: @rugbymorning Alistair Kirsch-Poole Writer/editor for Glorious Rugby Runs Tackle the Numbers Twitter: @AlistairKP
Ep 142Center Signing
Episode Notes We talk about Jordan Jackson Hope, likely Old Glory's last big signing of the season, before musing about the upcoming collective bargaining agreement. About the hosts John Fitzpatrick Runs the Rugby Morning newsletter Hosts MLR Coffee Break on MLR Weekly (Rugby Wrap Up) Hosts USA Rugby Happy Hour on Twitter Spaces Twitter: @rugbymorning Alistair Kirsch-Poole Writer/editor for Glorious Rugby Runs Tackle the Numbers Twitter: @AlistairKP

Ep 141Stan South - Watching Lots of Rugby
Episode Notes We talked to OGDC's defense coach Stan South about what he's up to in the lead up to training camp, what he wants borrow from the tactics of international teams, and how Young Glory is impacting the landscape of rugby across the whole region. About the hosts John Fitzpatrick Runs the Rugby Morning newsletter Hosts MLR Coffee Break on MLR Weekly (Rugby Wrap Up) Hosts USA Rugby Happy Hour on Twitter Spaces Twitter: @rugbymorning Alistair Kirsch-Poole Writer/editor for Glorious Rugby Runs Tackle the Numbers Twitter: @AlistairKP

Ep 140Steff Hughes - Tough Transitions
Episode Notes A key player on the team last year, Steff Hughes joins us to talk about his decision to transition to coaching and his plans for the team's attacking strategies. About the hosts John Fitzpatrick Runs the Rugby Morning newsletter Hosts MLR Coffee Break on MLR Weekly (Rugby Wrap Up) Hosts USA Rugby Happy Hour on Twitter Spaces Twitter: @rugbymorning Alistair Kirsch-Poole Writer/editor for Glorious Rugby Runs Tackle the Numbers Twitter: @AlistairKP

Ep 139Richard Merryman - The Full Roster
Episode Notes We talked with Old Glory's General Manager of Rugby Operations Richard Merryman about his role on the team, how the roster came together, how the new rules affected decision-making, and got him to spill the beans on the few remaining unannounced players. About the hosts John Fitzpatrick Runs the Rugby Morning newsletter Hosts MLR Coffee Break on MLR Weekly (Rugby Wrap Up) Hosts USA Rugby Happy Hour on Twitter Spaces Twitter: @rugbymorning Alistair Kirsch-Poole Writer/editor for Glorious Rugby Runs Tackle the Numbers Twitter: @AlistairKP
The Signing Announcements Slow
Episode Notes Only one new signing was announced since last week, even though big holes remain in the roster. Still, at least we've heard some announcements, unlike California fans. About the hosts John Fitzpatrick Runs the Rugby Morning newsletter Hosts MLR Coffee Break on MLR Weekly (Rugby Wrap Up) Hosts USA Rugby Happy Hour on Twitter Spaces Twitter: @rugbymorning Alistair Kirsch-Poole Writer/editor for Glorious Rugby Runs Tackle the Numbers Twitter: @AlistairKP
Ep 137Surprise Signing
Episode Notes We return for a new year of Old Glory banter, starting with a surprising signing, the return of some familiar faces, and a whole lot of "rugby knowledge". About the hosts John Fitzpatrick Runs the Rugby Morning newsletter Hosts MLR Coffee Break on MLR Weekly (Rugby Wrap Up) Hosts USA Rugby Happy Hour on Twitter Spaces Twitter: @rugbymorning Alistair Kirsch-Poole Writer/editor for Glorious Rugby Runs Tackle the Numbers Twitter: @AlistairKP
Ep 136Wrapping Up 2025
Episode Notes In our last episode of the year, we cover a couple OGDC signings and the news around the league. We'll be off the next couple weeks and be back in your feeds in the new year. About the hosts John Fitzpatrick Runs the Rugby Morning newsletter Hosts MLR Coffee Break on MLR Weekly (Rugby Wrap Up) Hosts USA Rugby Happy Hour on Twitter Spaces Twitter: @rugbymorning Alistair Kirsch-Poole Writer/editor for Glorious Rugby Runs Tackle the Numbers Twitter: @AlistairKP
Ep 135MLR 2026 is on Schedule
Episode Notes The big news is the release of the MLR schedule and what it means for Old Glory, but there have also been a bunch of player announcements and the drawing of RWC 2027 pools, making this a packed episode. About the hosts John Fitzpatrick Runs the Rugby Morning newsletter Hosts MLR Coffee Break on MLR Weekly (Rugby Wrap Up) Hosts USA Rugby Happy Hour on Twitter Spaces Twitter: @rugbymorning Alistair Kirsch-Poole Writer/editor for Glorious Rugby Runs Tackle the Numbers Twitter: @AlistairKP
Ep 135New Direction for the League
Episode Notes Old Glory has brought in a new player and the league has brought in new leadership, and it looks like there's a new schedule on the way. About the hosts John Fitzpatrick Runs the Rugby Morning newsletter Hosts MLR Coffee Break on MLR Weekly (Rugby Wrap Up) Hosts USA Rugby Happy Hour on Twitter Spaces Twitter: @rugbymorning Alistair Kirsch-Poole Writer/editor for Glorious Rugby Runs Tackle the Numbers Twitter: @AlistairKP
Ep 134A New Loosehead for Thanksgiving
Episode Notes Old Glory has added a new loosehead prop so we talk about how that position is shaping up, including an update on Jack Iscaro in France. About the hosts John Fitzpatrick Runs the Rugby Morning newsletter Hosts MLR Coffee Break on MLR Weekly (Rugby Wrap Up) Hosts USA Rugby Happy Hour on Twitter Spaces Twitter: @rugbymorning Alistair Kirsch-Poole Writer/editor for Glorious Rugby Runs Tackle the Numbers Twitter: @AlistairKP
Ep 133Weirdly Optimistic
Episode Notes Signings continue to roll in, the Eagles picked up a needed win, and World Rugby is shaking up the international calendar. But the league still exists and John is feeling weirdly optimistic. About the hosts John Fitzpatrick Runs the Rugby Morning newsletter Hosts MLR Coffee Break on MLR Weekly (Rugby Wrap Up) Hosts USA Rugby Happy Hour on Twitter Spaces Twitter: @rugbymorning Alistair Kirsch-Poole Writer/editor for Glorious Rugby Runs Tackle the Numbers Twitter: @AlistairKP